The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-17
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
The Northern Prison.

The Northern Prison.
=. 4be Editor Of the Indianapolis JournaI
:, one particular the government of the con-
-:..s in the northern prison is not humane.
frbsir dress for the most freezing day OF winter
:. the same, with the single addition OF vest.
.s.t l. is for the most torrid day in summer. No
80 can have less aympathy than l with any
.;.rIv sentimentalty concerning convicts. But
hnmanity requires that they have wholesome
sooa and in winter clothing suited to the neces-
,;t;es Of our rigorous climate. And whether
,r;soners have such clothing should not depend
,,non their friends outside 1t is the duty of the
c.ota TO urovide them all with comfortable
s,nderwear am told that the northern prison
lid the State last year $14 900 over all expenses
Gould a few hundreds of the amount be better
inyested than in the underwear absolutely neces-
sarv to the health of the prisoners9 l trust
come member of the Legislature will introduce
. hill making such action obligatory.
The management of our State institutions
.hnrld at all times receive the strictest scrutiny
~ honest and impartial men, for the honor of
the State is involved. Our blind, our dear ard
6nmb our orphans our insane should be lnvar-
;ablv treated with justice and humanity. They
have become through their affection, the poor
whom the State has always with her Could the
workings of all these institutions stand out
clearly as under the blaze of an electric light no
man could be Indifferent to them.
visited the northern prison eleven years or
an ago. and as / went through il was struck by
the neatness and order which prevailed. In the
dining room, especially, everything was clean.
THE table and seats ana floor were evidently
we'll and frequently secured. 1observed similar
cleanliness in the kitchen 1t was near the din
nsr hour. The meat and vegetables were
being cooked by. steam in large ket.
lust been removed from the ovens.
THE food had savory odor. Hungry men
could eat it and thrive on it. Recently 1 went
aeain through thesame dining room and kitchen.
The change was not agreeable. Grease and
desoiation reigned everywhere. An odOr of old
dirt was in the air. In the kitchen the smell
was that of old, rancid grease-sckening beyond
measure do not know who was steward clever
wears ago; do not know who is steward now.
FEVER asked; but. if | were director OF the
northern prison would have an investigation
q thorough overhauling of matters; a genera
cleaning up, metaphorically and otherwise, or
would know the reason why. do not believe
the board of directors will do anything half 81
sensible. They will probable meet in solmen ses
zion and consider whether 1t Is best Il
whip contumacious prisoner or to stretch hin
up in the SOLITARY" for twenty-four hours or SO
or to treat him to a shower bath of ice water
In the management of our State institutions i
is an eminently safe principle that the director
should be pecuniary disinterested. When a di
rector is appointed from an insignificant interio
town, and Immediately afterward all the dru
supplies for the prison come from that town, o
in another instance the groceries and provision
are bought In the town where another directo
lives. it lie fair presumption that the direct tor
In some way pecuniariy interested in this diver
sion of tha prison trade from its natural chan
nes. This matter should be so settled that n
director could profit by the management OF GU
State institutions without being liable to prose
cution There is too much danger of stewar
and directors playing into each others hands
the injury Of those under their care. N. R G.